Table-knife



(No Model.)

7 F. W. BRITTIN.

TABLE KNIFE.

Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

UNITED STATE s PATENT Curler...

FREDERICK VALLACE BRITTIN, OF NORIVICH, CONNECTICUT.

TABLE-KNIFE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,954, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed February 1, 1890. Serial No. 338,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WALLACE BRITTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in knives; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved knife. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing it inverted. Fig. 3 is a top edge view of the same, and Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken through the rim or bolster.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the handle, B the rim or bolster, and O the blade, which are constructed, preferably, in one single continuous piece, but may, if so desired, be constructed separately and joined together by any of the well-known processes. The blade at the point where it joins the rim or bolster is curved outwardly on its sides, as shown at D, thereby overcoming the formation of angles in which dirt might lodge and facilitating the cleaning of the knife. The sides of the rim or bolster are provided with the concave central de- -pressions E, which form convenient rests for the thumb and finger when the knife is in use, and its corners are cutaway, as shown at F, so that when the knife is placed on its side on a table the weight, and consequently the wear of the plated parts, will come upon the narrow edges or projections G, and the fine appearance of the knife be thereby preserved. The back or top edge of the blade, the bolster or rim, and the handle are in the same plane, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and are fiat, so that when so desired the knife may be rested on its back edge, so as to serve as a support or base upon which the ordinary table-knives, forks, and spoons may be rested or stacked to ornament a dining'table.

The blade is bent away from its back edge in advance of the rim or bolster, thereby carrying its cutting-edge to one side, so as to provide room for the fingers of the operator above the article cut, and consequently preventing the fingers from being soiled and preventing the article being cut from slipping from the knife by the fingers striking against the article when the knife is used by an awkward or unskilled person, and as the blade is narrow the friction between the parts is reduced to a minimum. The entire edge of the blade is sharpened, so as to provide the maximum length of cutting-edge, the advantage of which is obvious, and the said cutting-edge is curved throughout its length from end to end, so that when the knife is in use the operator uses his shoulder as a fulcrum naturally and easily. In the drawings I have shown the blade as carried past the point of its bend toward the handle, thereby forming the point or hook II; but this construction is not essential to my invention, as the blade may be formed on the curved line indicated in Fig. 1. The hook,however, will be found very advantageous, as it provides an increased length of cutting-edge and can be employed for the purpose of removing skewers rapidly and easily, as it forms the notch or recess I to engage the skewer. The edges of this recess may or may not be sharpened, as preferred.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a thoroughly-practical knife, which is very simple in its construction and can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost, and which will be found especially efficient for cutting bread, cake, meats, and other articles upon a dining-table, but is capable of various uses'in the arts, and its advantages are thought to be obvious.

It will be observed upon reference to the drawings, when taken in connection with the foregoing description, that the neat and handsome appearance of the knife is preserved for a long time, as the wear is received almost entirely by the narrow edges or projections of the rim, and consequently there will be but a trifling portion of the plated surface worn away, and such abrasion or wear can be provided for by reenforcing such parts with a sectional plating or an extra degree of plating. The rim. or bolster projects beyond the sides of the handle and the blade, so that when the knife is placed on its side the weight of the handle holds the blade out of contact with the cloth, and consequently prevents soiling of the same. The back of the blade and the handle being brought in the same line, the knife can be securely rested in an inverted position, so as to serve as a support for the ordinary table knives and forks for ornamenting' the table, and the concave surfaces of the rim form convenient rests for the thumb and forefinger, so that the knife can be easily and conveniently grasped.

The handle may, if so desired,be given the same cross-sectional outline as the rim or bolster, and the bolster may be square, hexagonal, or any other shape preferred, pro vided always that the projecting edges or rests be preserved.

FREDERICK WALLACE BRI'ITIN.

Witnesses:

EBENEZER F. PARKER, J12, ABRAHAM COPLAN. 

